Remotely monitorable and operatable display assemblies, systems and methods for the same

ABSTRACT

Display assemblies, systems, and methods for remote monitoring of display assemblies are provided. The display assemblies each include a network connection device in electronic communication with a controller in electronic communication with one or more electronic displays and components for operation. A monitoring center receives data from the display assemblies regarding operation, associates different customer identifiers with different portions of the received data, receives a particular customer identifier from a customer device, and electronically identifies the portions of the data associated with the particular customer identifier for transmission to the customer device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application No.17/893,253 filed Aug. 23, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S.Application No. 17/548,698 filed Dec. 13, 2021, which is a continuationof U.S. Application No. 17/134,634 filed Dec. 28, 2020, which is acontinuation of U.S. Application No. 16/508,877 filed Jul. 11, 2019,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/697,016filed Jul. 12, 2018, the disclosure of each of which are herebyincorporated by reference as if fully restated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to remotely monitorable andoperatable display assemblies, such as those incorporating one or moreelectronic displays, as well as systems and methods for the same.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The use of electronic displays has increased in recent years. Beyondpersonal use, these electronic displays are sometimes placed in anenclosure, which may be ruggedized, for both indoor and/or outdoor use.For example, without limitation, such display assemblies may be placedoutdoors, such as on sidewalks or on the tops of vehicles to name someexamples, to display advertisements or other information. Oftentimesthese display assemblies are associated with other electronic equipmentto provide features such as, but not limited to, video conferencing, webbrowsing, way finding, image capture, emergency notification, and thelike. It is desirable to provide owners, manufactures, operators,renters, or the like of such display assemblies with access tooperations data regarding the status and operation of such displayassemblies. Furthermore, these display assemblies consume a significantamount of power during operation. A significant amount of the energyconsumption of such display assemblies comes from operation of thebacklight. Particularly as the use of such display assemblies hasincreased, it is desirable that such operations data include dataregarding the energy consumption of the display, including but notlimited to, status and operation of the backlight. Such operations datamay be stored and presented to display owners and other relevant partiessuch that energy consumption and reliability may be tracked. Certainoperations parameters may be adjusted in response to the presented data.For example, without limitation, backlight levels may be adjusteddownward to reduce energy consumption or maintenance frequencies may beincreased in response to reported display assembly downtime.

However, for many such display assemblies, multiple parties may have aninterest in the operations data. For example, a display assemblymanufacturer may have an interest in monitoring its tens, hundreds,thousands, tens of thousands, etc. of display assemblies. Each owner orrenter of one or more such display assemblies might likewise have aninterest in monitoring the display assemblies it owns. While themanufacturer may already have access to this operations data, theoperations data may include data for all owners or renters. Thus, theoperations data may be co-located with operations data for other ownersor renters. Allowing complete access to such data may create privacyconcerns. However, individual storage of each client’s information wouldpotentially require multiple storage devices, increasing complexity andexpense. Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for providingaccess to co-located operations data for a display assembly.

The present disclosures provide a system and method for providing accessto co-located operations data for a display assembly. The system maycomprise one or more client devices in communication with a centralizedmonitoring center via a network. Multiple display assemblies maylikewise be in communication with the monitoring center via the network.In exemplary embodiments, each display assembly comprises one or moreelectronic displays and other electronic components for operation of thedisplay assembly in electrical connection with a display controller. Thedisplay controller may likewise be in electrical connection with anetwork interface device. The network interface device may likewise bein communication with the centralized monitoring center via the network.

Operations data may be continually gathered and transmitted to thecentral monitoring center for storage. The received operations data maybe processed. Such processing may determine which client(s) areassociated with the operations data and what the operations datarepresents. The operations data may be summarized and presented in avisual depiction. Upon receipt of a client request for operationsinformation, client specific information may be retrieved and presentedto the client in the visual depiction. In other exemplary embodiments,upon login, a client may be permitted to remotely operate or modifydisplay assemblies associated with the client.

Remote monitoring and/or operation of display assemblies may permitdisplay owners, operators, users, or the like to monitor displayassembly status and/or exert operational control over the same fromvarious locations. In exemplary embodiments, without limitation, some orall of the display assemblies may include latches, locking devices,and/or switches which are remotely monitorable and/or operable, such asto monitor whether portions of the display assemblies, such as but notlimited to access panels and/or electronic displays, are in an openedand/or closed position, locked and/or unlocked positions, and/or permitremote locking and/or unlocking of the same and/or movement between theopened and/or closed positions. Such switches may includemicro-switches, though such is not necessarily required.

Various data points may be remotely monitored and/or adjusted. Such datapoints may include, for example without limitation, sensor information,settings, operational parameters, user preferences, operationinformation, status information, combinations thereof, or the like. Anynumber and/or type of data points may be monitored and/or adjusted suchas but not limited to, day brightness level, night brightness level,brightness transition day-night-day, autonomous peripheral power cyclingunder what conditions, autonomous media player reboots under whatconditions, combinations thereof, or the like.

For example, without limitation, such data points may include whethereach electronic display and/or latching and/or locking device for thesame is in the opened and/or closed position, locked and/or unlockedpositions, such as but not limited to, based on data received from thelatches, locking devices, and/or switches.

Alternatively, or additionally, such data points may include powerlimits. These may include, by way of non-limiting example, AC powerinput limits. For example, without limitation, a maximum power inputsetting may be adjusted or set to a level below a trip limit of one ormore circuit breakers for the display assembly. The circuit breakers maybe integrated with the display assembly, external thereto, or otherwise.The controller may be configured to monitor power consumption, and wherethe power consumption approaches, reaches, or exceeds the maximum powerinput setting, the controller may be configured to automatically adjustdisplay assembly operations, such as to reduce power consumption. Forexample, without limitation, luminance settings may be decreased, fanspeed may be decreased, combinations thereof, or the like. This mayassist with preventing or limiting nuisance trips of power breakers.

The various data points may be remotely monitored and/or updated. Thedata points may be filtered, such as for viewing or updating, based onvarious display assembly characteristics, user preferences, type or kindof data point, time associated with data point, combinations thereof, orthe like. The display assembly characteristics may include, but are notnecessarily limited to, deployed geographic region (e.g., zip code,city, within distance from particular location, state, province,country, address, navigational coordinates, combinations thereof, or thelike), part number, unit serial number, fleet identifier, customeridentifier, advertisement identifier, combinations thereof, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of thepresent invention will be readily apparent from the followingdescriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein likereference numerals across the several views refer to identical orequivalent features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of an exemplary system;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an exemplary display assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an exemplary monitoring center of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an exemplary client device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of exemplary logic for use with the system ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of other exemplary logic for use with the systemof FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary user interface for use with the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is another exemplary user interface for use with the system ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 9 is another exemplary user interface for use with the system ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 10 is another exemplary user interface for use with the system ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 11 is another exemplary user interface for use with the system ofFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 12A is a front perspective view of another exemplary displayassembly for use with the system of at least FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 12B is a rear perspective view of another exemplary displayassembly for use with the system of at least FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart with exemplary logic for use with the system ofat least FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of another exemplary displayassembly and related components for use with at least the system of FIG.1 and the method of FIG. 13 ;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart with exemplary logic for use with the system ofat least FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of an exemplary report generatable by at leastthe system of FIG. 1 and the method of FIG. 15 ; and

FIG. 17 is a plan view of an exemplary report generatable by at leastthe system of FIGS. 1 and 12A-12B and the method of FIG. 15 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, specific details such as detailed configuration andcomponents are merely provided to assist the overall understanding ofthese embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications of the embodiments described herein can be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Inaddition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions areomitted for clarity and conciseness.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference toillustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) ofthe invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrationsas a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances,are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not beconstrued as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustratedherein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example,from manufacturing.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary system. A number ofdisplay assemblies 30 may be in communication with a monitoring center20. Similarly, a number of client devices 10 may be in communicationwith the monitoring center 20. The display assemblies 30 may be locatedremote from the monitoring center 20. Likewise, the client devices 10may be located remote from the monitoring center 20. The communicationbetween the display assemblies 30, the monitoring center 20, and theclient devices 10 may be made by way of a network 80. The network 80 maybe any network such as a cellular network, internet, intranet, worldwide web, or the like. The network 80 between the client devices 10 andthe monitoring center 20 may be the same or may be different from thenetwork 80 between the monitoring center 20 and the display assemblies30.

Each of the display assemblies 30 may be any kind of display assembly30, such as but not limited to, a free-standing display kiosk configuredfor placement on a sidewalk, a wall-mounted display unit, a vehicletopper unit, or the like. Each of the client devices 10 may be apersonal electronic device such as, but not limited to, a smartphone,tablet, smartwatch, laptop, desktop computer, some combination thereof,or the like.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of an exemplary display assembly 30 of FIG. 1. Each display assembly 30 may comprise one or more electronic displays70 in electrical connection with a display controller 50. Eachelectronic display 70 may comprise a backlight for illuminating theelectronic display 70. The electronic display 70 may comprise one ormore a liquid crystal displays, light emitting diode (“LED”) displays,organic LED displays, plasma displays, some combination thereof, or thelike. One or more of the electronic displays 70 may comprise touchcapabilities. The backlight may be comprised of a number of LEDsarranged in a directly backlit, edge-lit, or other orientation.

In exemplary embodiments, the display controller 50 may be in electricalconnection with other components 60 for operating the display assembly30. Such components 60 may include, but are not limited to, fans,temperature sensors, light sensors, fan speed sensors, power consumptionsensors, air quality sensors, weather sensors, other sensors, telephoneequipment, video conferencing equipment, voice-over-internet-protocol(VOIP) equipment, touch screens, camera, microphones, emergencynotification devices, processors, electronic storage devices, wayfindingequipment, location detection devices, video players, proof of playdevices, and the like. Any number, combination, and/or type ofcomponents are contemplated.

The display controller 50 may be configured to gather operations datafrom the electronic display 70. The display controller 50 may,alternatively or additionally, be configured to gather operations datafrom the components 60. Such operations data may include, but is notlimited to, proof of play data, fan speed data, temperature data,humidity data, power consumption data, ambient light data, weather data,backlight data, electronic display data, status data, emergencynotification data, air quality data, sensor readings, camera images orvideo recordings, microphone audio recordings, use history, and thelike. The operations data for multiple clients may be co-located at theelectronic storage device 52 located at the display assembly 30.Portions of the operations data may be associated with one or moreclient identifiers. For example, without limitation, operations dataassociated with a particular image displayed on the electronic display70 may be associated with a particular client identifier. Alternatively,or in addition, all operations data originating from one or more displayassemblies 30 may be associated with one or more client identifiers.This may permit for specific clients to access and retrieve only theoperations data associated with the particular client – permitting theco-location of such operations data while maintaining privacy. Theassociation with a client identifier may be performed at the displayassembly 30 or at the monitoring center 20. The client identifiers maybe, without limitation, unique alphanumeric serial numbers.

The display controller 50 may be in electrical communication with anetwork connection device 40. The network connection device 40 may beconfigured to transmit information to the monitoring center 20,including but not limited to, the operations data. In exemplaryembodiments, the network connection device 40 may likewise be configuredto receive information from the monitoring center 20, including but notlimited to, operation instructions. Such operations instructions maycomprise remote login capabilities, remote viewing, fan speedinstructions, backlight adjustment instructions, video or image filesfor display on the electronic displays 70, some combination thereof, orother instructions for operation of the display assembly 30. The networkconnection device 40 may transmit and/or receive such information by wayof the network 80.

The display controller 50 may comprise an electronic storage device 52for storing the operations data and/or operations instructions. Thedisplay controller 50 may also comprise a processor 54 for processingthe operations data and/or operations instructions. The electronicstorage device 52 may comprise software instructions, which whenexecuted, configure the processor 54 to perform various steps andprocesses described herein.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an exemplary monitoring center 20 of FIG. 1. The monitoring center 20 may comprise an electronic storage device 52for storing the operations data and/or operations instructions. Themonitoring center 20 may also comprise a processor 54 for processing theoperations data and/or operations instructions. The electronic storagedevice 52 may comprise software instructions, which when executed,configure the processor 54 to perform various steps and processesdescribed herein. The processor 54 may be the same or different from theprocessor 54 of the display assembly 30.

The monitoring center 20 may further comprise a network connectiondevice 40. The network connection device 40 may be in electricalcommunication with the processor 54 and the electronic storage device52. The network connection device 40 may be in electrical communicationwith one or more of the display assemblies 30. The network connectiondevice 40 may be configured to receive operations data from the one ormore display assemblies 30. The network connection device 40 may also beconfigured to transmit operations instructions to one or more of thedisplay assemblies 30.

The network connection device 40 may be receive the operations data andpass it to the electronic storage device 52 for storage. The operationsdata for multiple display assemblies 30 may be co-located at theelectronic storage device 52 located at the monitoring center 20.Co-location may be accomplished by associating portions of theoperations data with one or more client identifiers. Each portion of theoperations data associated with a particular client identifier may bestored on a common electronic storage device 52, but electronicallypartitioned to ensure that the operations data associated with eachparticular client is maintained separate.

Alternatively, or in addition, all operations data originating from oneor more display assemblies 30 may be associated with one or more clientidentifiers. This may permit for specific clients to access and retrieveonly the operations data associated with the particular client -permitting the co-location of such operations data while maintainingprivacy. The network connection device 40 may transmit and/or receivesuch operations data and/or operations instructions by way of thenetwork 80.

The gathering, transmitting, storing, receiving, and retrieving ofoperations data and/or operations instructions as shown and describedherein may be accomplished, wholly or in part, by the use of amicroservices architecture. Any of the other steps or methods describedherein may likewise be accomplished, wholly or in part, by the use of amicroservices architecture.

The monitoring center 20 may be a brick-and-mortar location staffed witha number of monitoring personnel, though such is not required. Inexemplary embodiments, the monitoring center 20 may comprise one or morerooms with one or more displays which may provide status and/oroperations information for one or more display assemblies 30. Forexample, without limitation, a complete or partial list of displayassemblies 30 and status information for each display assembly 30 may beshown. Information for a subset of display assemblies 30 may be shown ina rotating, scrolling, or other fashion. Detailed information regardingone or more display assemblies 30 may be shown on the same or a separatescreen. A number of personal electronic devices, such as but not limitedto, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, laptop, desktop computer, somecombination thereof, or the like may likewise display some or all of theinformation and may be configured to receive user input comprisingoperational instructions for one or more of the display assemblies 30.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an exemplary client device 10 of FIG. 1 .The client device 10 may be any personal electronic device, includingbut not limited to, a smartphone, tablet, smart watch, laptop, desktopcomputer, some combination thereof, or the like. The client device 10may comprise an electronic storage device 52 for storing the operationsdata and/or operations instructions. The client device 10 may alsocomprise a processor 54 for processing the operations data and/oroperations instructions. The electronic storage device 52 may comprisesoftware instructions, which when executed, configure the processor 54to perform various steps and processes described herein. The processor54 may be the same or different from the processor 54 of the clientdevice 10.

The client device 10 may further comprise a network connection device40. The network connection device 40 may be in electrical communicationwith the processor 54 and the electronic storage device 52. The networkconnection device 40 may be in electrical communication with themonitoring center 20. The network connection device 40 may be configuredto receive operations data from the one or more display assemblies 30 byway of the monitoring center 20. In exemplary embodiments, the networkconnection device 40 may be receive such operations data and store it onthe electronic storage device 52. The network connection device 40 maybe configured to transmit operations instructions to the monitoringcenter 20. The network connection device 40 may transmit and/or receivesuch information by way of the network 80. In exemplary embodiments, thereceipt of operations data and/or transmission of operationsinstructions is accomplished by use of an internet browsing applicationand an internet-based user interface or report 90.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of exemplary logic for use with the system ofFIG. 1 . The display controller 50 may gather operations data the one ormore electronic displays 70 and/or the other components 60 of therespective display assembly 30. The operations data may be associatedwith one or more client identifiers. This operations data may be storedon the electronic storage device 52 of the respective display assembly30. The operations data may be transmitted by way of the networkconnection device 40 and the network 80 to the monitoring center 20where it may be stored on one or more electronic storage devices 52 atthe monitoring center 20. In exemplary embodiments, the processor 54 atthe monitoring center 20 may associate the operations data with one ormore client identifiers. The processor 54 may electronically partitionthe electronic storage device 52 such that operations data associatedwith each particular client identifier is kept separate from operationsdata associated with other client identifiers. This process may berepeated continuously or at any interval. Alternatively, or in addition,a client identifier may be associated with the operations data whentransmitted to the monitoring center 20.

A client request for operations data may be received from one or more ofthe client devices 10 at the monitoring center 20. The monitoring center20 may retrieve the operations data associated with the client. Inexemplary embodiments, this may involve retrieving all operations dataassociated with one or more of the display assemblies 30 associated withthe client. Alternatively, or in addition, operations data specific tothe client from a particular display assembly 30 may be retrieved.Stated another way, any single display assembly 30 may compriseoperations data for multiple clients and only the operations dataspecific to the particular client may be retrieved. The retrievedoperations data specific to the client may then be transmitted to theappropriate client device(s) 10. In exemplary embodiments, data specificto the client may be identified by way of the client identifiers.Operations data may be requested from each electronic display assembly30 periodically, continuously, sequentially, in a particular order, somecombination thereof, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of other exemplary logic for use with the systemof FIG. 1 . One or more display assemblies 30 may be associated with oneor more clients. A client login request may be received by way of one ormore client devices 10 at the monitoring center 20. If the client loginis not successful (e.g., if the user name and/or password are incorrect)the request may be denied. If the client login is successful (e.g., theuser name and password are correct) the client may be permitted toremotely access one or more display assemblies 30 associated with theclient. In exemplary embodiments, client login may be made by way ofuser name and password, one time use codes, biometric information, somecombination thereof, or the like. Any method or system for verifyingclient identity is contemplated. Such access may be made by way of themonitoring center 20. The client may be able to view and retrieveoperations data for the one or more display assemblies 30 associatedwith the client. The client may also be permitted to submit operationinstructions for the one or more display assemblies 30 associated withthe client. The operations of the one or more display assemblies 30associated with the client may then be modified to reflect the receivedclient operation instructions. Permissions may be tailored on a perclient basis such that only certain display assemblies 30 may beaccessed and/or modified when particular client login information isprovided.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary user interface or report 90 for use with thesystem of FIG. 1 . The user interface or report 90 may display overviewinformation regarding a number of display assemblies 30, each of whichmay be associated with a particular client though such is not required.Information about each display assembly 30 may include, but is notlimited to, the serial number, description information, siteinformation, and status information of each display assembly 30. Statusinformation, current and/or historical, may also be provided.

As shown in FIG. 8 , event information for each of the displayassemblies 30 associated with a particular client may be depicted underan events tab 92. The event information may include, but is not limitedto, errors and warnings associated with one or more particular displayassemblies 30. An option to automatically generate a repair requestticket 94 may be provided for each event.

FIG. 9 is another exemplary user interface or report 90 for use with thesystem of FIG. 1 . A visualization 96 of current and historicaloperations data may be displayed. Such operations data may comprise datafrom one or more sensors associated with a display assembly 30. Inexemplary embodiments, the visualization 96 may be displayed in tabularform or a graphical representation such as, but not limited to, a linechart, bar chart, scatter diagram, or the like. Various categories ofdata may be depicted in the visualization 96 as selected by use of amenu 98. Such categories may be displayed in a color-coded fashion.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary summary dashboard 91, which may be configured todisplay summary information regarding a particular display assembly 30.Environmental information 102 may be displayed such as, but not limitedto, the average power supply temperature and average backlighttemperature. Display status information 104 may also be displayed suchas, but not limited to, the software version, the system run time, thebacklight run time, and the brightness of each display. Additionalinformation 106 may also be displayed such as, but not limited to, thestatus and resolution of various inputs, the inlet power supply, and thefan speed of various fans in the display assembly 30. Any open repairrequest tickets may be displayed at an open ticket information area 108.A screen capture 110 of what is currently being displayed, waspreviously displayed, and/or is scheduled to be displayed next on thedisplay assembly 30 may also be provided.

FIG. 11 is another exemplary summary dashboard 93, which may beconfigured to display summary information regarding all displayassemblies 30 associated with a particular client identifier. The numberof display assemblies 30 with some downtime event may be depicted in adowntime visualization 112. In exemplary embodiments, the downtimevisualization 112 is a bar graph tracked by date, though any form ofvisualization is contemplated. A listing of top display assemblies withevents 114 may be provided. A summary of repair ticket requests 116 mayalso be provided depicting all open repair ticket requests. A summary ofthe most reported events 118 may list the event(s) in question and thenumber of display assemblies 30 affected by the given event(s). Thesummary of the most reported events 118 may be presented in tabularform, though such is not required. Finally, a status summary 120 of alldisplay assemblies 30 associated with a given client identifier may beprovided. The status summary 120 may include, but is not limited to, thenumber of display assemblies 30 associated with the given clientidentifier which are playing video, not playing video, having no orlimited network connectivity, in good condition, in critical condition,or having one or more warning events.

The information displayed and the manner in which it is displayed ismerely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting. It is contemplatedthat any kind of data may be displayed in any format.

FIG. 12A through FIG. 12B illustrate exemplary display assemblies 30.The electronic displays 70 may be secured to a structural subassembly71, though such is not necessarily required. The structural subassembly71 may comprise one or more panels, housings, members, combinationsthereof, or the like. The structural subassembly 71 may be configuredfor mounting to a ground surface (e.g., sidewalk, parking lot), wall,vehicle, combinations thereof, or the like. The structural subassembly71 may comprise or provide a framework for mounting one or more of theelectronic displays 70 and/or additional components of the displayassemblies 10.

The electronic displays 70 may comprise one or more electronic displaylayers 73, such as but not limited to, liquid crystal layers, organiclight emitting diodes, or the like. Any type or kind of electronicdisplay may be utilized. The electronic display layers 73 may be setwithin a housing, behind a cover layer, within a framework of members,combinations thereof, or the like. The electronic displays 70 and/or theelectronic display layers 73 may be provided in any size and/or shape.

A single one or multiple ones of the electronic displays 70 may besecured to any given one of the structural subassemblies 71.

The electronic displays 70 may be moveably secured to the structuralsubassemblies 71, though such is not necessarily required. For example,without limitation, the electronic displays 70 may be configured forrotational movement between a closed position and an opened position. Inexemplary embodiments, without limitation, an upper portion or edge ofthe electronic displays 70 may be secured to the structural subassembly71 in a hinged fashion. The closed position may include securing abottom or other edge of the electronic display 70 to the structuralsubassembly 71. Alternatively, or additionally, a rear surface of theelectronic display and/or interior of the structural assembly 71 may bewholly and/or substantially inaccessible while the electronic displays70 are in the closed position. The opened position may include rotatingthe bottom edge or other edge of the electronic display 70 away from thestructural subassembly 71. Alternatively, or additionally, the rearsurface of the electronic display 70 and/or interior of the structuralsubassembly 71 may be wholly, partially, and/or substantially accessiblewhile the electronic displays 70 are in the opened position. Theelectronic displays 70 may be configured for movement along a verticalaxis, horizontal axis, or the like. The electronic displays 70 may behinged or configured for movement along an upper edge, lower edge, sideedge, combinations thereof, or the like.

Where multiple electronic displays 70 are utilized (e.g., back-to-backunits), some or all of the multiple electronic displays 70 may beconfigured for movement.

Alternatively, or additionally, as illustrated with particular regard toFIG. 12B, the display assemblies 30 may comprise one or more accesspanels 75. The access panels 75 may comprise doors. Movement of theaccess panels 75 into the opened position may permit access to the rearsurface of the electronic display 70 and/or interior of the structuralsubassembly 71, by way of non-limiting example. Movement of the accesspanels 75 into the closed position may prevent or inhibit access to therear surface of the electronic display 70 and/or interior of thestructural subassembly 71, by way of non-limiting example. Access panels75 may be utilized with single-sided units, by way of non-limitingexample. For example, without limitation, access panels 75 may beconnected to an opposing side of the structural assembly 71 compared toan electronic display 70, though such is not required. The access panels75 may comprise blank covers (e.g., sheet metal, printed glass,combinations thereof, or the like), poster cavities (illuminated orotherwise), combinations thereof, or the like. The access panels 75 maybe moveably secured to the structural subassembly 71, though such is notnecessarily required.

Some or all of the display assemblies 30 may comprise one or morelatching devices 61. The latching devices 61 may be configured toselectively secure the electronic displays 70 and/or access panels 75 ofthe display assemblies 30 in the closed position, such as when thelatching devices 61 are in a latched configuration, for example withoutlimitation. When in an unlatched configuration, the latching devices 61may permit movement of the electronic displays 70 and/or access panels75 of the display assemblies 30 into the opened position.

The latching devices 61 may be configured for manual and/or electronicactuation. For example, without limitation, the latching devices 61 maycomprise one or more handles, buttons, levers, gears, hooks, catches,combinations thereof, or the like for manual and/or local operation.Alternatively, or additionally, the latching devices 61 may comprise oneor more motors, solenoids, actuators, magnets, cams, shafts, pins,tumblers, combinations thereof, or the like and/or may be in electroniccommunication with the controller 50 for electronic and/or remoteoperation. Any type and/or kind of latching device 61 may be utilized.

The latching devices 61 may comprise locking devices 63. The lockingdevices 63 may be configured for movement between a locked position andan unlocked position. For example, without limitation, when in thelocked position, the locking devices 63 may be configured to prevent thelatching devices 61 from moving into the unlatched position, such as toprevent movement of the electronic displays 70 and/or access panels 75from the closed position into the opened position. As another example,without limitation, when in the unlocked position, the locking devices63 may be configured to permit the latching devices 61 to move into theunlatched position, such as to permit movement of the electronicdisplays 70 and/or access panels 75 from the closed position into theopened position.

The latching devices 61 and/or locking devices 63 may be configured forany type or kind of user interaction, such as but not limited a keyaccess, combination access, biometric access, combinations thereof, orthe like. Any type and/or kind of locking device 63 may be utilized.

The latching devices 61 may be located along a lower edge of the displayassembly. However, any location of the latching devices 61 may be used,such as to permit rotation of the electronic displays 70 and/or accesspanels 75 in a given direction.

The latching devices 61 may comprise one or more switches 65, such asmicro-switches, sensors (e.g., optical sensors, pressure sensors,switches), locking devices 63, latches, actuators, buttons, handles,combinations thereof, or the like. The status of the latching devices 61may be periodically monitored and/or updated. The latching devices 61may be remotely operated, such as but not limited to, between a lockedand unlocked position and/or latched and unlatched positions.

In exemplary embodiments, without limitation, the latching devices 61may comprise one or more switches 65, and/or such switches 65 may beseparately provided. The switches 65 may be located to detect movementof the electronic displays 70 and/or access panels 75 between the openedand/or closed positions. For example, without limitation, the switches65 may be interposed between the electronic displays 70 and thestructural subassembly 71. Alternatively, or additionally, such switches65 may be physically or electronically connected to said latchingdevices 61, such as to detect status of the locking devices and/orlatching devices (e.g., locked or unlocked positioned, latched and/orunlatched position). In this fashion, the status of the electronicdisplays 70 and/or access panels 75 may be remotely monitored (e.g., ifin locked position, unlocked position, opened position, and/or closedposition) and/or operated (e.g., moved between locked and unlockedpositions, and/or opened and closed positions).

The latching devices 61 may be one of the components 60 and/or inelectronic communication with the controller 50, by way of non-limitingexample. Alternatively, or additionally, the latching devices 61 and/orcomponents thereof may be separately provided.

The display assemblies 30 may comprise one or more movement assistancedevices 67. The movement assistance devices 67 may comprise, for examplewithout limitation, gas springs, motors, gears, levers, or the like. Themovement assistance devices 67 may be manually and/or electronicallyoperated. The movement assistance devices 67 - may be one of thecomponents 60 and/or in electronic communication with the controller 50,by way of non-limiting example. Alternatively, or additionally, themovement assistance devices 67 may be separately provided. The movementassistance devices 67 may be locally and/or manually operated and/oroperated remotely, such as for moving the electronic displays 70 and/oraccess panels 75 between the locked and unlocked positions and/or openedand closed positions.

The latching devices 61 may be interposed between the electronicdisplays 70 and/or access panels 75 and the structural subassembly 71,and/or be connected in whole or in part to one or both thereof.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow chart for remotely establishing power limits,such as but not limited to alternating current (“AC”) power input limitsby way of non-limiting example. Direct current (“DC”) power input limitsmay alternatively or additionally be used. FIG. 14 illustrates anexemplary display assembly 30 with power consumption limiting features.

One or more power lines 82 may electrically connect one or more externalpower sources 88 to the display assembly 30. The external power sources81 may comprise a utility power supply, solar panels, batteries, bulkenergy storage devices, alternators, generators, power plants,combinations thereof, or the like. The display assembly 30 may compriseone or more circuit breakers 84. The circuit breakers 84 may beelectrically interposed between some or all of the external powersource(s) 81 and some or all of the electricity consuming components ofthe display assembly 30, such as but not limited to the electronicdisplays 70 and components 60. The circuit breakers 84 may be internalto and/or external to the display assembly 30.

Trip limits of the circuit breakers 84 may be determined. Such triplimits may be determined manually. For example, without limitation, theknown trip limits may be electronically inputted at one or more of theinterfaces 90. The trip limits may be set by voltage rating, frequencyrating, current rating, breaking capacity, making capacity, operatingsequency, short-circuit current rating, short-circuit withstand rating,combinations thereof, or the like. Any number, type, kind, and/orarrangement of the circuit breakers 84 may be utilized.

AC current input limits, or other power limits, for the display assembly30 may be set to below the circuit breaker 84 trip limit, such as toprevent or limit nuisance trips of power breakers. The power limits maybe set to a predetermined amount below the trip limit in exemplaryembodiments, without limitation. For example, without limitation, if auser inputs a breaker trip limit of 20 amps, such as may be identifiedat one or more of the interfaces 90, the power limit may beautomatically set to 18 amps. Any predetermined amount may be utilized.

The display assembly 30 may comprise power monitoring equipment 86. Suchpower monitoring equipment 86 may comprise one or more actual orsimulated electric meters, or the like. The power monitoring equipment86 may be part of, or in electronic communication with, the controller50. Such simulated electric meters may be and/or operate as shown and/ordescribed in U.S. Pub. No. 2019/0339312 published Nov. 7, 2019, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference, by way ofnon-limiting example.

The controller 50 may be configured to limit power input to, at, orbelow the power input limit, by way of non-limiting example. Thecontroller 50 may be configured to monitor power consumption, such asbut not limited to by way of the power monitoring equipment 86. As thepower consumption approaches (e.g., is within a predetermined margin of)and/or reaches or exceeds the power input limit, the controller 50 maybe configured to adjust operations of the display assembly 30, such asto adjust the power consumption to a level at, below, or within atolerance of, the power input limit.

For example, without limitation, the controller 50 may be configured toautomatically adjust operations of the display assembly 30 to reducepower draw. For example, without limitation, the electronic displays 70may be operated at reduced to zero illumination, fan speed may bereduced, peripheral devices may be deactivated, combinations thereof, orthe like. Alternatively, or additionally, the controller 50 may beconfigured to automatically adjust power routing, such as throughdifferent electric pathways, such as to adjust current, voltage,amperage, wattage, amp-hours, combinations thereof, or the like,disconnecting certain power supplies, disconnecting certain powerconsuming equipment, inactivating certain power consuming equipment,adjusting certain power consuming equipment, combinations thereof, orthe like.

FIG. 15 illustrates a flow chart for remotely monitoring and/oradjusting various data points for the display assemblies 30. Data pointsmay include, but are not necessarily limited to, daytime brightnesslevel, nighttime brightness level, brightness transition (e.g., fromday-to-night and/or night-to-day), autonomous peripheral power cyclingand under what conditions, autonomous media player reboots and underwhat conditions, combinations thereof, or the like.

The various data points may be remotely monitored and/or updated. Thedata points may be viewed and/or updated based on various displayassembly 30 characteristics, including but not necessarily limited to,deployed geographic region (e.g., zip code, city, within distance fromparticular location, state, province, country, combinations thereof, orthe like), part number, unit serial number, fleet, customer identifier,advertisement identifier, combinations thereof, or the like.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary report 90 filtered by an exemplarygeographic region. The type and arrangement of data is merely exemplaryand is not intended to be limiting. The interfaces or report 90 may begenerated with only the data points relevant to the selectedcharacteristic(s). In this fashion, a user may not only see only thecontent relevant to their display assemblies 30, but this content may befurther filtered by various characteristics. This may be used to onlyprovide relevant data in reporting and/or relevant settings foradjustment.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary report 90 filtered by status of thelatching devices 61, electronic displays 70, and/or access panels 75.Identifying information for the display assemblies 30 may be provided atitem 31, and status information for the latching devices 61, electronicdisplays 70, and/or access panels 75 may be provided at item 33.

The type, kind, and/or arrangement of data and options shown in theinterfaces or reports 90 shown and/or described herein is merelyexemplary and is not intended to be limiting. Any type, kind, and/orarrangement of data and options may be provided. The data points shownand/or described may be manipulated, processed, and/or visualized invarious ways.

Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the optionalor preferred features of the other embodiments of the present invention.The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to beexhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. Theexemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain theprinciples of the present invention so that others skilled in the artmay practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art willrealize that many variations and modifications may be made to thedescribed invention. Many of those variations and modifications willprovide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimedinvention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention onlyas indicated by the scope of the claims.

Certain operations described herein may be performed by one or moreelectronic devices. Each electronic device may comprise one or moreprocessors, electronic storage devices, executable softwareinstructions, and the like configured to perform the operationsdescribed herein. The electronic devices may be general purposecomputers or specialized computing device. The electronic devices may bepersonal computers, smartphone, tablets, databases, servers, or thelike. The electronic connections described herein may be accomplished bywired or wireless means. The electronic devices, including but notnecessarily limited to the electronic storage devices, databases, or thelike, may comprise and/or be configured to hold, solely non-transitorysignals.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for remote monitoring of displayassemblies, said system comprising: the display assemblies, eachcomprising: one or more electronic displays; one or more components foroperating a respective one of the display assemblies; a controller inelectronic communication with each of the one or more electronicdisplays and the one or more components; and a network connection devicein electronic communication with the controller; and a monitoringcenter, remote from the display assemblies, and comprising one or morenon-transitory electronic storage devices comprising softwareinstructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:receive, from the display assemblies, data regarding operations of thedisplay assemblies; associate different customer identifiers withdifferent portions of the data; receive a particular customer identifierfrom a customer device; and identify the portions of the data associatedwith the particular customer identifier for transmission to the customerdevice.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein: each of said displayassemblies comprise a structural subassembly; said one or moreelectronic displays of said display assemblies are movably connected tothe structural subassemblies; and said one or more components of saiddisplay assemblies comprise: latches located along edges of the one ormore electronic displays to facilitate movement of said one or moreelectronic displays between a closed position and an opened position;locking devices configured to selectively secure said one or moreelectronic displays in said closed position; and switches locatedbetween said one or more electronic displays and the structuralsubassemblies for detecting movement of said one or more electronicdisplays into said opened position.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein:said one or more components comprise locking devices, latches, ormicroswitches.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein: said one or morecomponents comprise one or more of: fans, temperature sensors, lightsensors, fan speed sensors, power consumption sensors, air qualitysensors, weather sensors, telephone equipment, video conferencingequipment, voice-over-internet-protocol equipment, touch screens,camera, microphones, emergency notification devices, wayfindingequipment, location detection devices, video players, and proof of playdevices.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein: said one or more componentscomprise sensors at the display assembly; and said data comprises one ormore of fan speed, ambient temperature readings, internal temperaturereadings, ambient light levels, backlight levels, and power consumptioninformation for the display assembly.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein:said one or more non-transitory electronic storage devices compriseadditional software instructions, which when executed, configure saidone or more processors to generate time dependent graphs of the datafrom the sensors.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein: said one or morenon-transitory electronic storage devices comprise additional softwareinstructions, which when executed, configure said one or more processorsto: receive user input regarding one or more display characteristics;filter said data by said one or more display characteristics; andgenerate a report with the filtered data.
 8. The system of claim 7wherein: said display characteristics comprise a geographic area.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein: association of said different customeridentifiers with the different portions of said data received at saidmonitoring center from said display assembly, reception of saidparticular customer identifier from a customer device, and identifyingthe portions of the data associated with the particular customeridentifier for transmission to the customer device is accomplished usingmicro-services.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein: the data iselectronically compartmentalized by the customer identifiers; and saidone or more non-transitory electronic storage devices compriseadditional software instructions, which when executed, configure saidone or more processors to: receive and verify login information from thecustomer device; and summarize all of the portions of the data assignedthe particular one of the customer identifiers into a summary report.11. The system of claim 1 wherein: at least some of said data receivedfrom a particular one of said display assemblies is associated withmultiple ones of said customer identifiers; and said monitoring centercomprises a dedicated physical facility.
 12. The system of claim 1wherein: said one or more non-transitory electronic storage devicescomprise additional software instructions, which when executed,configure said one or more processors to: receive operating instructionsfor the display assemblies; and transmit said operating instructions tothe display assemblies for implementation.
 13. The system of claim 12wherein: said operation instructions comprise one or more of fan speedinstructions and backlight level instructions.
 14. The system of claim12 wherein: said operation instructions comprise a power input limit;and said controllers are configured to: monitor power consumption of arespective one of the display assemblies; and adjust operations of therespective one of the display assemblies to maintain said powerconsumption of the respective one of the display assemblies at or belowsaid power input limit.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein: saidcontrollers are configured to reduce a backlight level of the respectiveone of the display assemblies or decrease a fan speed of the respectiveone of the display assemblies where said power consumption of therespective one of the display assemblies exceeds said power input limit;each of said display assemblies is associated with one or more circuitbreakers, each having a trip limit; and said power input limits are setbelow the trip limits for respective one or more of said one or morecircuit breakers of each of said display assemblies.
 16. A method forremote monitoring of display assemblies, said method comprising:electronically associating different customer identifiers with differentportions of data electronically received from the display assembliesregarding operations of the display assemblies, wherein said datacomprises data received from one or more sensors provided at each of thedisplay assemblies; electronically receiving a particular customeridentifier from a customer device; and electronically identifying theportions of the data associated with the particular customer identifierfor transmission to the customer device.
 17. The method of claim 16further comprising: receiving and verifying login information from thecustomer device; receiving one or more filter criteria; filtering saiddata by way of said one or more filter criteria; summarizing all of theportions of the filtered and identified data into a summary report; andelectronically presenting the summary report at the customer device. 18.The method of claim 16 wherein: the data is received from sensors at thedisplay assemblies and comprises fan speed, ambient temperaturereadings, internal temperature readings, ambient light levels, backlightlevels, and power consumption information for the display assemblies;and at least some of the data received from a particular one of thedisplay assemblies is associated with multiple ones of the customerdevices.
 19. The method of claim 16 further comprising: electronicallyreceiving operating instructions for the display assemblies;electronically transmitting said operating instructions to the displayassemblies; and electronically implementing, at the display assemblies,the operating instructions.
 20. A system for providing customer-specificstatus information for display assemblies utilized by multiple differentcustomers, said system comprising: the display assemblies, eachrespective one of the display assemblies being configured forutilization by multiple customers and comprising: a structuralsubassembly; one or more electronic displays mounted to said structuralsubassembly; components for operating the respective one of the displayassemblies; sensors for monitoring operating conditions of therespective one of the display assemblies; a controller in electroniccommunication with each of the one or more electronic displays, thecomponents, and the sensors; and a network connection device inelectronic communication with the controller; a network operationscenter, remote from the display assemblies, and comprising one or morenon-transitory electronic storage devices comprising softwareinstructions, which when executed, configure one or more processors to:receive, from each of the display assemblies, data regarding operationalstatus of each of the display assemblies; associate different customeridentifiers with different portions of said data received at saidnetwork operations center from each of said display assemblies such thatat least some of the portions of the data received from each respectiveone of the display assemblies is associated with different ones of thecustomer identifiers; receive a particular customer identifier from acustomer device; identify the portions of the data associated with theparticular customer identifier for transmission to the customer device;receive user input regarding one or more display characteristics; filtersaid identified data by said one or more display characteristics;generate a report with the filtered, identified data; monitor powerconsumption of the display assemblies; and where said monitored powerconsumption of a respective one of the display assemblies meets orexceeds a predetermined threshold, automatically commanding adjusting ofoperation of said respective one of the display assemblies to decreasepower consumption.